Mugabe’s Purged Ally Appears With Tsvangirai in Opposition Boost

Mugabe’s Purged Ally Appears With Tsvangirai in Opposition Boost

HARARE, Capital Markets in Africa: Zimbabwe’s former Vice President Joice Mujuru appeared at rallies with his political foe Morgan Tsvangirai in the central city of Gweru, boosting opposition against President Robert Mugabe. Mujuru, who served in Mugabe’s first cabinet in 1980 and rose to become the 92-year-old leader’s deputy, formed Zimbabwe People First after being expelled from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in 2014 after she was accused of plotting Mugabe’s…

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Lungu Wins Zambia Presidential Vote Rival Says Was Rigged

Lungu Wins Zambia Presidential Vote Rival Says Was Rigged

LUSAKA, Zambia, Capital Markets in Africa: Zambian President Edgar Lungu was declared the winner of an Aug. 11 election that the main opposition said was stolen by the electoral commission and ruling party officials who colluded to rig the outcome — an allegation the authorities deny. Lungu, 59, secured a five-year term with 1.86 million of the about 3.7 million valid votes cast, surpassing the 50 percent mark needed to avoid a runoff, Esau Chulu, chairman of…

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Al-Qaeda Affiliate Seen Posing Increasing Risk in East Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, Capital Markets in Africa: East Africa faces a rising threat from al-Qaeda’s Somalia-based affiliate after it established a presence in five other countries in the region, according to a report from a multi-national bloc. Al-Shabaab, which is being targeted both by U.S. drones and an African military force, has expanded to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda since 2010, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development said Monday. The militants have staged fatal attacks in Kenya, killing dozens of…

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IMF Steps Deeper Into Middle East Cauldron With Loan to Egypt

IMF Steps Deeper Into Middle East Cauldron With Loan to Egypt

CAIRO, Egypt, Capital Markets in Africa: The International Monetary Fund is stepping up lending in a region where economic reformers haven’t exactly had the most success. Hoping to restore the confidence of foreign investors, Egypt announced an initial agreement Thursday to borrow $12 billion over three years from the IMF, joining Iraq, Tunisia and Jordan in taking money from the Washington-based fund. Egypt’s program is likely to see the government of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi move toward a…

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IMF Plans to Help Egypt Secure Remaining Money for Loan Deal

CAIRO, Egypt, Capital Markets in Africa: The International Monetary Fund said it will help Egypt plug the remaining financing gap for its economic program before the fund’s executive board approves a $12 billion loan deal with the Arab country. The government is targeting $21 billion over three years to revive growth and ease a crippling foreign-exchange shortage. In addition to the IMF loan, funds will come from the World Bank, the bond market, and bilateral accords. “All…

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South Africa’s Rand Gains Offer South Africa’s Kganyago ‘Cushion’ on Rates

South Africa’s Rand Gains Offer South Africa’s Kganyago ‘Cushion’ on Rates

South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The recent strength of South Africa’s rand is providing a cushion for the country’s policy makers and shouldn’t lead to complacency in tackling inflation, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said. “The risks to the inflation outlook has to do with possible future weakness in the currency,” Kganyago told reporters at a central bank event in Pretoria on Thursday. “The fact that the currency has strengthened has not taken that way, it has…

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Zambians Await Presidential Vote Results After Frenzied Campaign

Zambians Await Presidential Vote Results After Frenzied Campaign

LUSAKA, Zambia, Capital Markets in Africa: Ballot counting in Zambia was under way Friday after voting ended in a hotly contested election that pitted President Edgar Lungu against his main challenger, Hakainde Hichilema, for the second time in 19 months. Less than 28,000 votes separated the two men when they contested a snap poll in January last year, after President Michael Sata died in office. While Lungu’s administration has improved the country’s road system and built new clinics and schools, a growth…

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